The Dillon tribune., 1887-07-01

l&SY0B
SEVEN DAYS BATTLE GROUND.
FIRST. Then Mcclellan dismissed his plan Of
taking Richmond for the time, and made
preparations for secure retreat to the James,
which was now j., possession OF the Federa1s
from its mouth nearly to the Confederate
capital
The first battle Of the seven days fighting
was that Of Mechanicsville, June g. A
slight s1irmish had taken place June Is.
Porter's corps was stationed around aud to
tho east Of Mechanicsville Near here was
Beaver Dam creek. with Ellison's Min upon
II. McCall's Pcnnsylvcnans were stationed
on the rising ground ,cc:' E!lison's Min, COM
manding tho creek. 1o tho right, left and
rear Of Mccall were Gems. Reynolds. Martin
dale, Griffin, Meade aud Seymour, With their
commands The troops were ranged half
moon shape ON Beaver Dam creek. Mechan-
icsvillc bridge crossed the Chickahominy.
Stoncwull jackson and his men were 10 he
in the rear Of Mechanicsvillc on tho morning
OF tho Goth. Dranch's Confederate brigade
was to cross the Chickalominy up near Rich
mond. move rapidly down the river road and
clear Meadow bridge Of its Union guard, and
then strike eastward, join Stonewall jackson,
and make an attack ON the Federal rear cast
Of Mechanicsville. Meadow bridge crossed
tho Chickaholniny north of the one at
MechaMicsville.
As soon as Meadow bridge was cleared Of
Fcderals A. r. Hill was to cross it rapidly,
push still further south and then take the
road to Mechanicsville. That movement
would leave tho Mechanicsville bridge clear.
Longstrect and D. II. Hill wcrc to cross it,
,narch hastily on and join the attacking
column. Thus McClellan's army on tho north
bank Of tho Chickahominy would DO involved
front and rear, and could be cut to pieces
But for the first time in his life Stonewall
jackson was late. The two Hills and Long
street carried out their part Of the pro-
gramme, attacking tho Federal front as it
faced south on tho Chickahominy. Their
work was with tho Federal left, Jackson's
with the right.
A. r. Hills advance had driven the Union
pickets back to the main line at Eilison's
Mill. There was time enough for the Federals
to form in battle linc. Hill and Longstreet
advanced in the teeth Of tremendous fire Of
,nusketry and artillery from the heights
around Eilison's Mill. The firing came from
Gen. Seymour, who held the left Tho Con.
federates had hoped to turn the Union flank
aud cut the left to pieces In the midst Of
deadly fire they wcrc hurled back, and the
movement failed, and SO the battle of Me-
chanicsvslle ended. It. had lasted from 3
O'Clock in the afternoon til9. McCall's men
wero In tho blooliest Of the contest The Con-
federates lost bctwecn 1900 and 1000, tho
Fcderals about 400.
Next morning Mcclellan resolved to retreat
south and take up a position on the James. He
found for certain that jackson was In his yicin
ity with large force, and had only been de-
tanned by some Federal skirmisl,ers at Tolo-
poton,y creek, north Of Mcchanicsville.
Here some military critics declare Mcclellan
made another mistake The Confeicrates had
left Richmond protected only by a5 900 men
-Huger's and Magruder's divisions-on the
9Th. After the Federal victory at Mechanics
vile II Mcclellan had unexpectedly and Wig
orously attacked Richmond, hc could have
cut Lees army In two. Magru,ier, indeed, ex-
pccted it. He wrote in his report: II passed
tho night without sleep. Had Mcclellan
inassel his whole force in column, and nd.
vanced 1t against any point Of our line II bat
tie, as was done at Austerlitz under similar
circumstances by the greatest captain Of any
age, tho occupation Of our works
about Richmond, and consequently tue city,
might haye been his reward"
But Mcclellan did not do it, He began to
retreat to the James.
The second battle of the seven DAYS fight
ing was that at Gaines Mill. or Cold Harlor,
June -.
Mcclellan lnade ready for his right wing
TO cross the Chi'Iahominy. During tho night
=" inc -oth the hcavy guns and wagons were
sent across to tho south bank. Porter's corn.
the Fifth, was drawn up at Gaines Mills n
position several miles south Of Mechanics
vile. This place was between Cold Horhor
and the ChickahoMiny
The Confcdcrates had not retr,at.l An
other attack was to be made on Fitz John
forters corps, north IT the Chickahominv
next day.
Porter's mon were ranged in n sen,icirr;a
ut Gaines Mills,
s. !: !: !: 8: ): {: !: !: !:
facing tho bridges ~
by which they M
werr to cross to the
south side Of the ~
Chick a b miny. III <\S
The guns which WS
had alreadycrossed \&9G1 &A
had been planted ~
ON the other side
to face the bridges. ~;
At !. o'clock in n "
the y - orrn.>r -.